Rotary engine.



PATENTBD SEPT. 15, 1903.

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No. 738,907. PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903. H. L. HUMPHREY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION 211.121) [AI 16, 1903.

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ROTARYjENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1a, 1903. no MODEL. e SHEETS-SHEET a.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

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UN TED STATES Patented September 15, 1903.

PATENT ()FFIGE.

- ROTARY ENGINE.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 738,907, dated September 15, 1903. Application filed MaylB, 1903. $erial No. 157,334. (No model.)

To all whom it Wmy concert 1,:

Be it known that I, HENRY LEE HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines in which a cylindrical piston revolving about a fixed axis receives impulses from steam or other expansible fluids at its circumference; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide an engine having the least possible Wearing-surface; second, to provide an engine having a revolving piston with but little of its surface in contact With the surrounding cylinder and yet capable of using steam or other fluids expansively, and, third, to provide an engine in which the parts that are liable to wear may be easily, quickly, and cheaply replaced by others. 1 attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the operators side of the engine. Fig. 2 is a view of the other side. Fig. 3 is a view with one side of the cylinder removed, showing a few details in section. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the piston. Fig. 5 is an end view of the engine. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are views of the main valve. Fig. 8 shows the supplemental valve. Fig. 9 is a view of the valve-rod. Fig. 10 is a view of the piston-jacket; and Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional views of the upper part of the engine, showing two positions of the valve and piston for explanatory purposes.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The cylinder or casing of this engine is made up of two parts 1 and 2, secured together by bolts passing through flanges, the joint being central with respect to .the valves 3 and 4, which are placed above the piston 5, which piston rotates in a chamber formed by these two parts of the cylinder and which piston is supported by shaft 6. This piston 5 is cylindrical and is provided with recesses 7 (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and also shown in Figs. 4, 11, and 12.) The number of these recesses varies according to the size of the engine, two being shown in the drawings, but any number may be used. The

radial piston-face S and the parallelfianges 9 form the walls of the recess, while the bot-- tom extends concentric with the outer periphery of the piston until about the point 10, Fig. 3, from which point it tends outward until it reaches the periphery near the next radial piston-face. These recesses are the expansion-chambers of the engine. The upper parts of the two parts of the cylinder are continued to form the valve-casings, in which are slidable the main valve 3 and the supplemental valve 4. These casings may be provided with bushings 11 and 12 made of an antifriction material softer than the valves. When the bushings become worn, new ones may be substituted. The mechanism for op crating the valves will be explained later. The valves are connected by the cross-bar 13. The main valve 3 is a hollow cylinder slidable perpendicularly in'its casing and is provided with a receiving-port 14 and dischargeport 15. The lower end is reduced, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to fit between the flanges 9 of thepiston. The lower end of the valve is curved to fit the bottom of the expansionchambers. The piston revolves freely in the cylinder, being in contact with the same at but that distance from 18 to 19in Figs. 11 and 12, through which distance the cylinder makes a fluid-tight joint with the piston. As will be seen in Figs. 6, 7, 11, and 12, the valve '3 is provided with two shoulders 20, which are curved to fit the flanges 9. The jacket 21 is supported by screws 22 in such a position as to embrace the piston. It is adjusted by screws 23, so as to bear hard enough on the piston to form a fluid-tight joint. The jacket extends from the point 19 a distance equal to the distance from 8 to l0the distance the fluid is used cxpansively. With a larger number of expansion-chambers the length of the jacket in degrees would be less than that here shown with but two chambers.

The operation of the engine up to this point is as follows: When the piston is in the position shown in Fig. 12, the valve 3 is supported so that its port 14 registers with the opening between the two valve-casings. The

expansion fluid passing in from pipe 17, through the casing of the supplemental valve, down through that valve, through port 14, fills the valve 3. When the piston reaches the position shown in Fig. 11, the valve 3 begins to drop. Its fall is not as sudden as shown, being controlled by mechanism to be explained later; still the valve descends and when it has reached the position in Fig. 11 the discharge-opening not being closed by the valve-casing permits the fluid to expand and fill the expansion chamber, pressing against the piston-face 8 and driving the piston before it. As shown, the fluid is incased by the walls of the expansion-chamber, the jacket, that small part of the engine-cylinder extending from the valve 3 to the jacket, and the valve itself. As the piston revolves the point 10 of the piston reaches the valve, and again the valve is lifted to its position in Fig. 12, just previous to which time the pistonface 8 passes from the jacket and allows the imprisoned fluid to escape into the main casing and out through exhaust-opening 24. It will be noted that the valve 3 does not conduct the expansion fluid, but conveys it from one position to the other.

As will be seen in Figs. 11 and 12, the valve 4 closes the passage between the two valvecasings as soon as the valve 4 descends. This valve is small and is formed as shown in Fig. 8, acting as a spring and absolutely preventing leaking. Should the valve 3 wear loose, the time that valve 4 permits the working fluid to pass through the channel connecting the two valve-casings is so short that very littleleakage can occur. When the valve 4is not desired, the pipe 17 maybe attached to the cap of the casing, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, instead of to the side, as in Figs. 11 and 12.

The adjusting-screws 23 should be supported by lugs on one of the parts of the casing. The screws 22 may be similarly supported or in channels between the two parts. It will be noticed that it is unnecessary for the two parts of the casing to form a fluid-tight joint except for the distance indicated and around the valves.

The valve 3 is operated by the valve-rod 25, which is slidable in a guide 26 on the side of the valve-casing and in the guide 27, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. On the shaft 6 is the cam 28, having as many elevations 29 and depressions 30 as there are expansion-chambers in the piston. The riin of the cam projects, and the rod 25 is provided with the two antifriction-rollers 31 and 32, although the plate 33, Fig. 5, may be substituted for the roller 32.

In case the piston should be motionless in the position shown in Fig. 12 it would be in the position corresponding to the condition known as dead-center in reciprocating engines. Thefollowing mechanismisemployed for starting the engine when it is in such position: Attached to the shaft 34, by means of the arm 35, is the tongue 36, which lifts the expansion chamber of the piston, the shoulders 37 being extended, so that the total width is that of the piston. The tongue when in its outward position slides along the shoulder 18, both the shoulder and the tongue being to a circle, with the center at the center of the shaft 34. The tongueis normally held outward by the spring 38 and connecting-link 39. To the shaft 34 is attached the handle 40. The passage 41 extends from the bottom of the chamber of valve 4 to the periphery of the piston (see Fig. 11) and is closed by valve 42, \vhichmay he turned by the handle 43, Fig. 1. When then the piston is on center, as shown in Fig. 11, the handle 40 is turned, forcing the tongue 36 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The fluid is then admitted through the passage 41 and expands,

pressing against 8 and 36, forcing the piston around.

In case it is desired to use the engine to drive a reversible shaft the gear 44 may be attached to the shaft 6.. The shaft 45 is revolubly mounted and slidable in the brackets 46 and 47. To this shaft are attached the gears 48 and 49, and embracing these gears is the fork 50, to which is pivoted one end of the lever 51, which in turn is pivoted to the cylinder at 52. Swinging the lever and shifting the fork and gears from the position shown in solid to that in dotted lines in Fig. 1 will serve to reverse the direction of revolution of shaft 45. The wheel 53 on shaft 54 is driven by bevel-gear 55, which meshes with another bevel-gear slidable on but revolnble with shaft 45, this gear on 45 being prevented from moving endwise by the bracket 47. This reversing mechanism is well known, and therefore the details are merely indicated.

\Vhat- I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary engine, thecombination of a casing, a revolnble piston therein having recesses, and a cylindrical reciprocating valve having closed ends for measuring and conveying said fluid to said recesses.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a piston revolnble in said casing having recesses, and a valve for conveying bodily to and introducing the expansion fluid into said recesses.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a piston revolnble in said casing having recesses, a valve for conveying bodily to and introducing the expansion fluid into said recesses and means to prevent the escape of the fluid from the recesses.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a piston revolnble in said casing having recesses, a cylindrical receiver adapted to fit said recesses and to introduce the expansive fluid into the same, means to prevent the escape of the fluid from the recesses, the casing contacting with said piston between said means and said'receiver.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston revoluble in said cylinder having recesses, a valve-casing above said cylinder having a port, and a receiver having closed ends slidable to a position to receive the expansion fluid at the port and thence convey the same bodily to therecesses.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston rotatable within said cylinderhaving recesses, a valve-casingsurmounting said. cylinder, a cylindrical valve in said casing having its lower end reduced to fit said recesses and completely prevent the escape of the expansion fluid and a segmental jacket contacting with said. piston to prevent theescape of said fluid from said recesses.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a shaft, a piston mounted on said shaft having recesses, a valve-casing extending from said cylinder having a port, a hollow receiver slidable into position to receive the expansion fluid at said port and from said position to convey the fluid into said recesses, and means on' said shaft to actuate said receiver.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having a port for receiving the expansion fluid, a reciprocating receiver having closed ends movable to position to receive a fixed amountof said fluid and movable from said position to convey said fluid to the proper location for its discharge, and means at said discharge-point to be actuated by said fluid.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston revoluble in said cylinder having circumferential recesses, said recesses having one radial end walland parallel side walls, and a cylindrical receiver for conveying the expansive fluid to said recesses having one end reduced to fit between the said side walls and the bottom of the recesses, and shoulders to bear on the periphery of the side walls thus preventing the escape of the fluid.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston having recesses, a cylindrical valve having an extension to fit said recesses, a jacket to form an expansion-chamber together with the valve and the piston recesses, and a segmental tongue for forming an auxiliary expansion-chamber.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a piston having recesses, a valve, a segmental jacket, and means comprising a hinged tongue for forming an auxiliary expansion-chamber, said piston contacting with said casing only between said means and jacket.

12. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a piston having recesses, acylindrical valve, a segmental jacket, a tongue, a shaft supporting said tongue and means for turning said shaft and swinging said tongue into position to form an expansion-chamber with the valve and one of the recesses in the piston.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a revoluble piston having recesses, an endWise-movable cylindrical valve, a shaft, a

tongue attached to a shaft and revoluble with the same, said tongue fitting said piston-recesses,and means for Withdrawing said tongue from said recesses.

14. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a revoluble cylinder having recesses, a reciprocating valve, a segmental jacket contacting with the face and having flanges contacting with the sides of said piston and means for adjusting the position of said jacket.

15. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a revoluble cylindrical piston within the casing having recesses, a reciprocating valve for conveying the expansive fluid to said recesses, a segmental jacket contacting with the face and having flanges contacting with the sides of said piston, the length of said jacket being less than the length of said recesses.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a cylindrical piston having recesses, a valve for conveying the driving medium bodily at predetermined intervals to act the piston, a jacket to prevent the escape of the medium while expanding, said casing having an exhaust-opening constantly open to permit the escape of said medium after expanding.

17. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a cylindrical piston having recesses, a cylindrical valve having closed ends for measuring and conveyingthe driving medium bodily at predetermined intervals to act on the piston, a jacket to prevent the escape of the medium while expanding, said casing having an exhaust-opening constantly open to permit the escape of said medium after expanding.

18. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, a cam on said shaft, a revoluble piston mounted on said shaft within the casing and having recesses, a valve for conveying the expansive fluid bodily to the recesses, a rod for operating said valve and rollers forming the connection between the rod and cam.

I 19. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston revoluble in said cylinder, a valve-casing extending from said cylinder having a port, a hollow valve having an opening and movable so said opening may register with said port, a second valve-casing connecting with the first by means of said port, and a second valve in said second casing, the two valves so connected that the second will close said port as the opening in the first ceases to register with said port.

20. In a rotary engine the combination of a cylinder, a cylindrical piston revoluble in the same having recesses, a valve-casing extending from said cylinder having a port, a hollow valve slidable in said casing having an opening which at the outer limit of the travel of the valve registers with said port,the lower end of the valve being reduced to fit into said recesses and having an opening to permit the escape of the expansive fluid from said valve 'eiL after the upper opening has ceased to register with said port and after the valve has begun its inward movement.

21. In a rotary engine, the combination of acylinder, a rotary piston in said cylinder, a cylindrical valve-casing extending from said cylinder, a valve in said casing for measuring and conveying the expansive fluid to said piston, a rod attached to said valve and extending outward, a second rod connected to said first rod, a shaft supporting said piston, a cam on the outer end of said shaft, and rollers for forming the connection between the second rod and the cam.

22. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a cylindrical piston revoluble therein having circumferential recesses, a valvecasing extending from said cylinder, 3. cylindrical valve reciprocating in said casing for conveying the driving medium to the recesses, a segmental jacket for inclosing part of the piston to form an expansion-chamber,

said cylinder being enlarged beyond said jacket and having an exhaust-opening.

23. In a rotary engine, the combination of a two-part casing having flanges to form a base, a piston revolnble within said casing, a valve slidable within said casing for conveying the driving medium to the proper location for acting on said piston, a segmental jacket surrounding the piston to insure the expansion of the medium, screws for supporting said jacket, said casing having a circumferential recess for receiving said jacket and for permitting the escape of the medium after expansion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY L. HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

JNo. H. RUSSELL, J. H. DOUGHERTY. 

